Toy Vehicle with Pivoting Action

ABSTRACT

A pivoting mechanism for a vehicle such as a radio control toy vehicle includes a rotating element loosely mounted on a wheel axle and extending slightly beyond the wheel radius. When the vehicle moves forward, the rotating element rotates up out of the way and does not create substantial friction with the ground. When the vehicle moves in reverse, the rotating element catches the ground, which causes the rotating element to kick up underneath the vehicle into a generally downward position, thus raising the vehicle up onto the rotating element rather its associated wheel, which causes the vehicle to turn sharply about the rotating element. A stop prevents the rotating element from rotating past its vertically downward position. When the vehicle moves forward again, the rotating element automatically rotates up again out of the way so that the vehicle drives forward in a substantially straight line.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/844,502 filed Sep. 13, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of toy vehicles. More particularly, this invention relates to the field of a toy vehicle with pivoting action.

2. Description of Related Art

Remotely controlled (RC) toy vehicles provide amusement for children and adults alike. Such toys usually includes the vehicle itself and a hand held controller/transmitter that transmits commands to the vehicle. Those commands sent to the unit usually include commands to drive forward and to drive in reverse, a steering command for causing the vehicle to turn to the left or to the right, and possibly other commands for speed control or for activating special features on the vehicle. The steering control on the hand held transmitter often includes a steering wheel type device, with the steering direction and the amount by which the vehicle's wheels turn being controlled by whether the user turns the steering wheel to the left or to the right, and by how far.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a mechanism for turning a toy vehicle such as a battery operated RC vehicle which is simple in both its construction and in its operation. The invention is particularly well suited for use in RC toy vehicles for very young children, for whom the controls should be very simple. According to the invention a simple pivoting mechanism allows the vehicle to move in one direction such as a forward direction, and to automatically perform a turn when moving in the opposite direction. In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle moves forward in a substantially straight line, and when placed in reverse the vehicle automatically pivots, thus turning the vehicle. In this way the RC transmitter unit can have simply forward and reverse drive commands, but does not need to include a separate steering command.

According to a preferred embodiment, depending upon the direction of vehicle motion, a mechanism with a contact member engages or disengages the surface over which the vehicle travels, creating a pivot point about which the vehicle rotates. The mechanism includes a rotating element loosely fixed to the body of the vehicle about one of the wheel axles next to the wheel. When the element rotates and engages the travel surface, it generates sufficiently high friction to pivot and turn the vehicle. This allows the vehicle to change directions without requiring the angle of the wheels relative to the vehicle body to change.

When moving in one direction, preferably the forward direction, the element rotates freely on the axle into a first position. In this position the element freely either rotates out of the way, or lightly contacts the travel surface without creating substantial friction. When moving in the opposite direction, the element rotates toward a second position herein referred to also as an engagement position. In this position, the element contacts the travel surface and generates a substantial amount of friction, much more relative to the first position.

The second position is determined by the presence and location of a fixed stop. The element rotates up to and against the fixed stop, which limits maximum rotation by its presence and location. The size, shape and location of the element will depend upon vehicle requirements and design factors. In a first embodiment the element is radial in shape, or generally pie-shaped, and having a rounded outer peripheral surface. When co-axially mounted, such element will have a radius slightly greater than the adjacent wheel and the contact surface of the element extends beyond the outer perimeter surface of the wheel. When rotated into and out of this second or engagement position, the contact surface of the element is rotated into and out of substantial frictional contact with the travel surface when the vehicle is moving. In the second position, the friction created causes a change in vehicle velocity. In addition, it causes a change in vehicle motion by creating a point of contact about which the vehicle turns. When in the second position, the outer perimeter contact surface of the wheel is lifted away from the travel surface.

The present invention provides a turning mechanism for a toy remotely controlled vehicle that is extremely simple and inexpensive to incorporate. It also provides a novel and amusing turning mechanism that presents unique challenges to users, such as the challenge of navigating the toy vehicle through a defined course using only the forward drive command and the reverse/turn command

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view looking at the bottom of a toy vehicle having a pivoting mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 with the front wheel shown in shadow to reveal the pivoting mechanism, showing the mechanism in the position it takes during forward travel of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 with the front wheel shown in shadow to reveal the pivoting mechanism, showing the mechanism in the position it takes during reverse travel of the vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a simplified side elevation view of the inside of the right front wheel of the vehicle of FIG. 1 including the pivoting mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a simplified side elevation view of the inside of the right front wheel of a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a toy vehicle 10 having a pivoting mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The mechanism includes a rotating frictional element 20 co-axially located and adjacent to the inside of a wheel 12. Viewed from the underside of the body, the rotating element 20 rotates freely back and forth about wheel axle 26. Rotation is in accordance with the direction of motion over the travel surface. Herein, travel surface refers to any surface over which the vehicle travels. In a preferred embodiment rotating element 20 is not biased toward any particular rotation orientation.

Wheel 12 is depicted as a rim with a tire but could be any type of wheel. Wheel 12 has an outer peripheral surface 13 that contacts the travel surface. Rotating element 20 may be mounted on axle 26 with only an insubstantial amount of friction, which means the element rotates substantially freely about the axle. Axle rotation alone would not create sufficient friction by itself to consistently rotate the element about the axle. Alternatively, rotating element 20 may be mounted on axle 26 with enough friction that when vehicle 10 travels in the forward direction, rotating element 20 rotates up and off the travel surface as will be shown and explained further with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the toy vehicle, with the front right wheel 12 shown in shadow to reveal details of the pivoting mechanism when the vehicle is moving in the forward direction. The molded plastic body of the vehicle includes two stops, namely, forward direction stop 24 and reverse direction stop 22. When the vehicle is moving in the forward direction as shown by the rotational direction arrow, rotating frictional element 20 rotates about vehicle axle 26 with enough friction to rotate the element up and out of the way against forward direction stop 24, but with not so much friction as to interfere with the free movement of the vehicle in the forward direction.

FIG. 3 shows the same elements as in FIG. 2, but with the vehicle shown traveling in the reverse direction as shown by the rotational direction arrow. Due to the slight friction of rotating frictional element 20 about axis 26, or simply due to gravity if there is little or no friction with axle 26, rotating frictional element 20 now rotates until its leading edge contacts the travel surface, then continues rotating downward as the vehicle continues moving backward until rotating element 20 rotates against reverse direction stop 22. In this position element 20, which has a radius slightly larger than the radius of wheel 12, lifts wheel 12 off the ground. The radius of element 20 is preferably 1-20% larger than the radius of the wheel, and more preferably 1-10% larger than the radius of the wheel. In one sense, element 20 jacks the vehicle up slightly at one wheel. Rotating frictional element 20 creates significant frictional contact with the travel surface such that when reverse power is applied, via either the front wheels or the rear wheels whichever are the driven wheels, vehicle 10 pivots at least somewhat about the area of contact between rotating frictional element 20 and the travel surface. If rotating frictional element 20 is made of a high friction material such as rubber, or has a high friction contact surface, the pivoting action will be pronounced. If, on the other hand, rotating frictional element 20 is made of a low friction material such as polyethylene or other plastic, and especially if the vehicle is traveling over a low friction surface such as a hardwood floor, rotating frictional element 20 will drag somewhat over the travel surface without creating as pronounced a pivoting action. The vehicle will, however, still turn even if there is only a relatively small amount of friction between element 20 and the travel surface.

In this embodiment, rotating element 20 rotates with the wheel associated about the wheel axle with sufficient friction such that rotating element 20 rotates about the axle for at least a portion of a revolution, until it bumps against first stop 22 in a first direction or against second stop 24 in a second direction.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 looking from the vehicle side outward, but without the body element present. Adjacent to the inside 14 of wheel 12, rotating frictional element 20 is rotatably fixed upon axle 26 and maintains the approximate position shown when wheel rotation is in the forward direction when there is virtually no friction between element 20 and axle 26. The leading edge of contact surface 21 is located slightly behind the vertical centerline of the wheel. When the wheel rotates in the reverse direction, even a small amount of friction between contact surface 21 of rotating frictional element 20 and travel surface 30 will cause element 20 to rotate downward and lift wheel 12 off the ground.

Depending on design, the pivoting mechanism need not be located strictly adjacent to a wheel in order to perform and function. FIG. 5 depicts a second embodiment of the pivoting action mechanism, shown in a side view and without the vehicle for illustration purposes. Here, the pivoting mechanism is similar in size and shape, but is fixed to a secondary axle 140 other than the wheel axle, the secondary axle being located on an extension of the body of the vehicle or some other mechanism. Stop 122 is fixed to the extension of the vehicle body. The action and operation of the mechanism is the similar to that of the embodiment shown in the first embodiment, but an alternative mounting is utilized. When the direction of rotation is the reverse direction, the rotating element will rotate toward and up against stop 122, similar to as shown in the previous embodiment.

The scope of the design function of this mechanism is not necessarily limited to only the embodiments described herein, but may be applied to other designs as well. For example, an embodiment of similar design may control rotation of a wheel such that it becomes a point of contact with the travel surface about which the vehicle turns. That is, the wheel automatically locks in the reverse direction, and spins freely in the forward direction. The wheel itself therefore would serve the same function as the rotating element. As another example, the design of the body may integrate the stop into it in such a fashion that the stop and its function may not be recognized as a separate entity. In additional embodiments, the rotating element may limit maximum rotation by use of matched parts and shapes, or possibly by simple detents in the body, or by locating the stop on the rotating element itself.

The term “present invention” used herein should not be construed to refer to a single invention comprised of a single or multiple elements. As used herein the term encompasses a number of distinct embodiments of the same invention. Although the present invention has thus been described in detail with regard to the suggested embodiments and drawings thereof, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various adaptations and modifications of the present invention may be accomplished without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Examples of this were detailed in the Summary above. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the detailed description and the accompanying drawings as set forth herein and above are not intended to limit the breadth of the present invention, which should be inferred only from the following claims and their appropriately construed legal equivalents. 

1. A mobile toy vehicle with a pivoting apparatus adapted to move over a travel surface, the vehicle comprising: a body; a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the body; a rotating element, mounted on an axle of at least one of said wheels, separate from said wheels and not biased toward any rotational position; wherein said rotating element is adapted to rotate from a first position to a second and engagement position in which it contacts the travel surface with sufficient friction to induce a change in vehicle motion.
 2. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1 further comprising: at least one fixed stop; wherein said rotating element, when rotated toward said engagement position, is limited to a maximum rotation by the presence and location of said stop.
 3. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said rotating element has an insubstantial amount of frictional contact with said axle such that the rotating element, when in the first position, rotates freely on the axle to contact the travel surface.
 4. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said rotating element has sufficient frictional contact with said axle such that the rotating element rotates with the wheel associated with said axle about the axle for at least a portion of a revolution.
 5. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein: said one of said wheels has an outer perimeter surface which contacts said travel surface; and said rotating element has a rounded contact surface which extends beyond the outer perimeter surface of the wheel and contacts the travel surface when rotated into said engagement position.
 6. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said rotating element is radial in shape, having a radius between 1% and 10% greater than a radius of said one of said wheels.
 7. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1, in combination with a remote control transmitter for controlling operation of the vehicle, the transmitter having no control for controlling direction of the vehicle other than a forward control and a backward control.
 8. A vehicle adapted to move over a travel surface, the vehicle having an apparatus for turning the vehicle comprising: a contact member which rotates about an axle of said vehicle, the contact member not biased toward any rotational position thereabout; wherein rotation of said contact device into and out of substantial frictional contact with said travel surface is controlled by direction of motion of said vehicle.
 9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the contact member is rotated into substantial frictional contact with the travel surface when the vehicle is moving forward.
 10. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the contact member is rotated into substantial frictional contact with the travel surface when the vehicle is moving backward.
 11. A vehicle adapted to move over a travel surface, the vehicle having an apparatus for turning the vehicle comprising: a frictional device loosely and rotatably mounted to the vehicle, the frictional device having a first position which creates a point of sufficiently high friction with the contact travel surface to turn the vehicle and a second position which creates a point of friction with the travel surface lower than the first position; and means for rotating said frictional device such that, when the frictional device is rotated into the first position, the vehicle turns about the point of sufficiently high friction between the vehicle and the travel surface; wherein rotation of the frictional device is controlled by direction of motion of the vehicle.
 12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said frictional device is loosely and rotatably mounted to the vehicle about an axle.
 13. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said frictional device, when rotated into the first position, contacts the travel surface, creating the point of contact and sufficiently high friction about which the vehicle turns.
 14. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said frictional device, when rotated into the first position, causes a wheel of the vehicle to be the point of contact and sufficiently high friction with the travel surface about which the vehicle turns.
 15. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein rotation of the frictional device between said first and second positions is the only means of directional control.
 16. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the frictional device is rotated into the first position of sufficiently high friction with the travel surface when the vehicle is moving backward.
 17. The vehicle of claim 11 further comprising at least one fixed stop, wherein said frictional device, when rotated into said first position, is limited to a maximum rotation by the presence and location of said fixed stop.
 18. A radio control toy vehicle comprising: a vehicle body and a plurality of wheels for contacting the ground over which the vehicle travels; means for causing a frictional element to automatically contact the ground on one side of the vehicle when the vehicle moves in a reverse direction, the frictional element contacting the ground with sufficient friction to cause the vehicle to turn; and means for automatically causing the frictional element to substantially cease frictional contact with the ground when the vehicle moves in a forward direction, thus allowing the vehicle to move forward in a substantially straight line.
 19. The radio control toy vehicle of claim 18 wherein: said frictional element is rotatably and coaxially mounted with one of said vehicle wheels, said frictional element having a radius slightly greater than a radius of said one of said wheels; and said vehicle has a detent which prevents rotation of said frictional element significantly past a vertical position when said vehicle travels in reverse.
 20. The radio control toy vehicle of claim 19 wherein said frictional element is a generally pie-shaped piece mounted inside of said one of said wheels relative to the vehicle body. 